Culture & Sights 観光 · Stop C03
神社とお寺
Visiting shrines and temples in Japanese
Thousands of red torii gates wind up the mountain at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. Get a goshuin, ask about charms and fortunes, and check where you can go.
Phrases
御朱印をお願いします
ごしゅいんをおねがいします
goshuin o onegaishimasu
A goshuin, please.
Pray first, then hand over your goshuin book open to a blank page. It's a record of your visit, not just a stamp.
お守りはいくらですか？
おまもりはいくらですか？
omamori wa ikura desu ka?
How much is this charm?
Omamori are charms for luck, safety, study and more. Tradition says not to open the little bag.
おみくじはどこですか？
omikuji wa doko desu ka?
Where can I get a fortune?
Drew a bad fortune (凶)? Tie it to the rack at the shrine and leave the bad luck behind.
中に入ってもいいですか？
なかにはいってもいいですか？
naka ni haitte mo ii desu ka?
May I go inside?
Temple halls often ask you to take off your shoes. Many shrine halls are closed to visitors.
お参りの仕方を教えてください
おまいりのしかたをおしえてください
omairi no shikata o oshiete kudasai
Please show me how to pray here.
Staff and locals are usually happy to show you the steps.
What you’ll hear
Staff talk fast. Here’s what they are likely to say at this stop, and a good answer.
こちらは書き置きのみです。
kochira wa kakioki nomi desu.
We only have pre-written ones here.
Some places hand out goshuin already written on paper instead of writing in your book.
はい、それでお願いします
hai, sore de onegaishimasu
Okay, that's fine.
番号札を持ってお待ちください。
bangoufuda o motte omachi kudasai.
Please take this number and wait.
At busy goshuin counters, staff keep your book and give you a number tag.
はい
hai
Okay.
すみません、中には入れません。
sumimasen, naka ni wa hairemasen.
Sorry, you can't go inside.
Shrine main halls are usually closed to visitors. You pray from the front.
わかりました
wakarimashita
I understand.
Culture tip
Shrine or Temple?
If there's a water basin, rinse your hands first. At a Shinto shrine (look for a torii gate), bow twice, clap twice, pray, then bow once. At a Buddhist temple, don't clap: just put your palms together quietly and bow.
“You should clap twice when praying at a Buddhist temple.”
Clapping is for shrines. At temples, press your palms together quietly.
Practice scene
A Stamp from the Shrine
The shrine office at Fushimi Inari Taisha, where charms and goshuin are handed out. You've just prayed at the main hall.
Ms. Fujii · Shrine attendant
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Your turn: Hand over your goshuin book and ask for a goshuin.
御朱印をお願いします
goshuin o onegaishimasu
A goshuin, please.
-
はい。少々お待ちください。
hai. shoushou omachi kudasai.
Sure. One moment, please.
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Your turn: While you wait, ask where you can draw a fortune.
おみくじはどこですか？
omikuji wa doko desu ka?
Where can I get a fortune?
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おみくじは、あちらです。
omikuji wa, achira desu.
The fortunes are over there.
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Your turn: On the way, you pass a hall with its doors open. Ask if you may go in.
中に入ってもいいですか？
naka ni haitte mo ii desu ka?
May I go inside?
-
すみません、中には入れません。お参りはこちらからどうぞ。
sumimasen, naka ni wa hairemasen. omairi wa kochira kara douzo.
Sorry, you can't go inside. Please pray from out here.
Scene complete! You earned the Fushimi Inari Taisha stamp.
Phrases from Ekiben content v3